But FIFPro, the worldwide trade union for professional footballers, issued a statement last night requesting dialogue with FIFA, UEFA and the European Commission to share its concerns over what it called 'blackmail behaviour of clubs'.

Moratti told inter.it: "As far as the club is concerned, we are completely open to the player, there is no sort of blackmail.

"If a contract is valid, it's certainly valid to ask a person if it can be improved in some way. That doesn't change the fact that for the time being he's not playing for technical reasons."

"We are completely open to the player, there is no sort of blackmail" - Massimo Moratti

He added: "Obviously no one would want to throw away someone of his value. The club is calm, we haven't forced anyone to do anything. His contract is valid, no one is forcing him, Sneijder is free."

The former Real Madrid playmaker has not featured since September and Moratti would not be drawn on whether he would return against Palermo this weekend.

"That's entirely down to the coach, if he thinks he's physically and psychologically up to playing," he added.

The FIFPro statement read: "FIFPro signals a growing number of players who are put under pressure to prolong their contract. This is no new phenomenon.

"A club forces a player with a contract nearing expiry to sign a new contract. If the player refuses, the club puts him on the reserve bench or in the grandstand.

"This professional footballer doesn't get a chance to play any more. Only when he has signed a new contract he can resume playing."